"As long as I'm here," Ryuuto said calmly, "you can't die. Even if you want to."
He meant every word — though Gwen had no idea who he really was. She still thought he was just another transfer student, not someone who'd walked through blood and fire before showing up in her world.
Gwen led him to the campus dance theater — her part-time job spot. She had the keys, since she handled the cleanup there after events.
As she unlocked the door, Ryuuto's gaze swept the corridor.
"Don't close it," he said.
She blinked. "Why not?"
He smiled faintly. "Let them come in."
That was his trap.
Once inside, Ryuuto spoke softly.
"Hide. Don't come out unless I tell you."
Gwen nodded, nervous but obedient. Less than two minutes later, the door creaked again.
Four men entered — guns drawn — followed by the woman Ryuuto had noticed earlier.
The woman smirked as she stepped closer.
"Where's the girl?"
"You've got business with her?" Ryuuto asked casually.
"Just sending her to the afterlife," the woman said. "Her invention's pissed off too many people. Someone paid me well to erase her. Hand her over, pretty boy. Or I'll kill you first."
Before Ryuuto could respond, Gwen burst out of hiding.
"Stop! Don't hurt him! I'm the one you want!"
Ryuuto's eyes widened. For a moment, he almost cursed. This idiot—!
But then he saw it — the tremor in her legs. She was terrified, but still stepped forward.
He couldn't let that go to waste.
Ryuuto sighed. "Sorry, but you're not ready for this part of the movie."
He struck lightly at the back of her neck. Gwen gasped once and slumped into his arms, unconscious. He laid her gently on the clean floor and turned toward the Mutant.
"So," he said, voice low, "what's your ability?"
The woman narrowed her eyes. "So you already knew I'm a Mutant?"
"From the start," Ryuuto replied. "That makes you my prey."
His calm confidence made her flinch. "Who the hell are you?"
"You really don't recognize me?" He tilted his head with a crooked smile. "Name's Ryuuto."
"Liar! I know what Ryuuto looks like — you're nothing like him!"
"Then go ahead," he said, motioning at her. "Use your power. See for yourself."
"You'll regret that!"
The floor beneath her began to ripple — her body sinking through it like liquid shadow.
Ryuuto's pupils tightened.
Same ability… as Katie Dee?!
If that was true, things could get nasty fast.
Without hesitation, he scooped Gwen up and leapt, his chakra surging.
In a blur of motion, his body lifted off the ground — weight flickering between light and heavy as he used his Rock Technique to glide upward.
The next instant, two gleaming daggers slashed out of the floor where he'd been standing. The woman's head and shoulders emerged through the solid stage like a ghost phasing through reality.
Yeah, he thought grimly, definitely the same phasing ability. And the blades too. Just like Katie Dee.
It made sense — if you could walk through walls, close-range weapons were ideal.
The Mutant woman fully emerged, smiling up at him.
"Oh, you can fly? Not bad. My employer would love you. Join us, and you'll have more money, women, and power than you could dream of. All that for saving one worthless girl — not exactly a good trade, is it?"
Ryuuto smirked. "You still don't get who's out of their league."
"All I see," she shot back, "is a coward who ran away."
"Fine," he said, flexing his wrist. "Let's fix that."
He raised his hand — and a fiery-red summoning circle flared open in midair. A massive broadsword dropped from the light and slammed into his palm — the Beheading Blade, humming with killing intent.
"Let's make this quick."
The next moment, he vanished.
SWOOSH.
To anyone watching, it was as if time skipped — one heartbeat of silence, then four bodies fell apart mid-motion, blood spraying across the stage.
The mercenaries hadn't even realized they were dead until their torsos slid off their legs.
Ryuuto reappeared where he'd started, the blade dripping scarlet.
The female Mutant's expression froze in horror. "That sword… Why do you have Ryuuto's weapon?!"
He chuckled and let his disguise flicker away — showing his true face.
"Now you recognize me?"
Her eyes widened. "You're a Mutant too! I admired you once — we should be allies! Humans hate us both! Join me, and we can—"
"I don't give a damn about labels," Ryuuto interrupted. "Mutant, human, alien — doesn't matter. You mess with me or the people I protect? You die. Simple."
"You think you can kill me?" she laughed, stepping backward through the floor. "I'm untouchable. No one can kill me!"
Ryuuto said nothing — just lifted his sword, eyes narrowing.
"Then let's test that."
He slashed. The blade tore clean through her, passing harmlessly as her body flickered intangible.
He expected that. He wasn't testing her durability — he was confirming her type.
Same as Katie Dee, he confirmed internally. Phase-type Mutant. Damn annoying to deal with… but not invincible.
Ryuuto backed off, forming a quick hand sign.
"Fine," he muttered. "Let's have some fun first."
His chakra surged, shadows splitting off his form.
"Ninjutsu—Shadow Clone Technique!"
The air rippled. Three Ryuutos appeared beside him, each gripping a sword and smirking in sync.
The woman's smile finally cracked.